Westlands by Randi Lynn Beach

California’s central valley is one of the most active food producing regions in the world. The community has a special relationship with the land, but water policy has left farming on the west side in danger of collapsing. In dry years the west side is last in line for water allocations, and recent policy has cut their allocation even further. The result is fallowed land, workers moving out of town, and farms and businesses closing. The issue is much more complex than farmers versus environmentalists. It's about an antiquated water policy, a fragile ecosystem, and a growing population. The community is on the knife's edge of its existence and is only one example of many around the world that face the same challenges.

Randi Lynn Beach lives and works in California.To view more of Randi's work, please visit her website.

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